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10 Dec 2016 4:43:47pm

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"A concern I have is that loss of confidence on the part of Bishops will cause them to take a low public profile. I have heard of priests being advised by their Bishop not to be seen in public, such as on public transport or attending a sporting event or the theatre, wearing clothes that identify their priestly status, for fear of being spat on or otherwise badly treated. That is very sad, but perhaps even more a matter of concern is if Bishops and other Catholic religious leaders choose to remain silent on other public issues because of the adverse publicity on this issue.”With a person like George Pell at the metaphorical helm of the RCC in Australia, keeping a low profile is probably a good thing. After all, when he opens his mouth, it is only to switch which foot he has in it. Comments like, “I put the victim first” which no victims believed at the Victorian inquiry are classic Pellisms. Especially when followed up with evidence he had continued to pay a stipend to convicted priest, has paid pittances out to his churches victims, meanwhile buying $30 million properties in Rome. Even his appearance at the Victorian Inquiry, was not to say sorry, which none of the churches victims believed anyway, Pell was there because he had to be there. The churches actions since the 1990’s in addressing child rape, is only because they have been made to do it. Even then, it was out of a desire to self protect, not help the victim, the case of the Fosters is a classic example, Pell offered them $50k for each daughter raped in a manner that destroyed the faith of Chrissie Foster, the Fosters took his church to court and ended up with 9 times that amount for just one of their daughters. It wasn’t enough, one is dead, the other a permanently disabled. Even some Priests like Kevin Dillon think Pell acted in a completely unacceptable manner. Interestingly, Father Dillion noted that if Melbourne Response and Towards Healing worked, Pell wouldn’t be sitting in that inquiry. Telling isn’t it?Moving on, for the broader priests and such types of the RCC not being seen in public in the robes of office, due to the risk of being harassed makes sense to me. A huge swathe of society now has little to no respect for Pell and his ilk, worse, many are downright disgusted. The church has lost this respect and moved to the level of outright loathing for a very good reason: the ham handed, ineffective, attempted self-preserving, inability to acknowledge how wrong they are is at the heart of it, the claims of piety and morality are shown by actions to be non-existent. When Pell says he is sorry, no one buys it, no one believes it, because he has only said it when he was in a place in which he had to say it.